Brazil: Is this a Green Palm Snake (Philodryas viridissimus)? (1 Viewer)

jmorlan

Hmmm. That's funny

Opus Editor

• Aug 25, 2015

• #1

6 August 2015. Rio Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Our guide tentatively identified this as a Green Palm Snake (Philodryas viridissimus). However the yellow throat does not seem to match online photos of that species very well. Any help with this ID would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

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SteveTS

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2015

• #2

Philodryas olfersi, distinguishing the species can be tricky without the specimen to hand, for P. olfersi the dorsal scales are smooth, with usually fewer than 120 subcaudals.

AFAIK P. viridissima is unrecorded from Matto Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul, and Goias.

Best wishes,

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 25, 2015

• #3

Isn't that black facial line more reminiscent if this, don't know if it's so simple...?

http://www.philodryas.com/olfersiiENG.html

edit.....didn't see that Samandag already nailed it.


Andy

 

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SteveTS

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2015

• #4

andyadcock said:

don't know if it's so simple...?

Click to expand...

It's always a puzzle from a photo.

In some cobra-verde - Philodryas olfersi - any head markings can be virtually undiscernable, and as with Chironius the ground colour has some variation.

Bites in some cases from P. olfersi have required several weeks of careful wound management, handle with care !

Good quality, close up photos are great, and a winner when allied with location and pholidosis.

Best wishes,

 

jmorlan

Hmmm. That's funny

Opus Editor

• Oct 26, 2015

• #5

Thanks. I was happy with P. olfersii but I just received a comment on another forum suggesting that this is actually Drymoluber dichrous. Now I'm not sure what to think. Help!

 

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SteveTS

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2015

• #6

jmorlan said:

Thanks. I was happy with P. olfersii but I just received a comment on another forum suggesting that this is actually Drymoluber dichrous. Now I'm not sure what to think. Help!

Click to expand...

Ask your correspondent to explain why.

Not aware of any records in Pantanal!

Sounds like an 'I think it is ... because it looks like one' id.

Best wishes,

 

jmorlan

Hmmm. That's funny

Opus Editor

• Oct 26, 2015

• #7

Thanks. This was actually at Cristalino Jungle Lodge which is Amazonian forest, not Pantanal.

 

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SteveTS

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2015

• #8

With it now, thanks.

D. brazili is recently reported in open habitats, Mato Grosso, D. dichrous extralimital. Really only distinguishable by counting the scale rows, and the presence / absense of apical pits.

The arrangement of the supralabials on yours looks atypical for Drymoluber, although the grass stalk is just in an awkward position.

This might help : http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?NGD144-11.

Without the specimen I'm happy to stick with P. olfersii and just as happy to be shown otherwise and why.

Best wishes,

 

Last edited: Oct 26, 2015

jmorlan

Hmmm. That's funny

Opus Editor

• Oct 26, 2015

• #9

Thanks again. I asked our guide about D. dichrous, and he said "That looks much more like our snake! Philodryas has a much more muscular (glandular) head." I have not yet heard back from the person making the suggestion originally. Here is a closer photo taken by the guide. Larger version here. Maybe it will help.

Birds are so much easier!!

 

Last edited: Oct 26, 2015